SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly one in 20 South Koreans has limited monthly social interaction through mobile communications, highlighting a growing segment of the population at risk of social isolation, according to a government-backed data analysis released on Monday. The findings, published by the National Data Agency, mark the first nationwide statistical attempt to [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean companies are facing a widening shortage of research and development workers, particularly in strategically important technologies such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, according to a new industry survey released on Monday. The survey, conducted by the Korea Industrial Technology Association, found that corporate research institutes were short about [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans are reporting their highest levels of satisfaction with leisure life in nearly a decade, reflecting a shift toward more meaningful and self-directed use of free time, according to a government survey released on Friday. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Culture & Tourism [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — A new social media trend in South Korea that pairs exaggerated claims of poverty with images of conspicuous wealth is drawing growing backlash, as critics argue that the so-called “poverty meme” trivializes real economic hardship in a country marked by widening inequality. The trend, popular on the platform Threads, typically [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s government plans to enact a sweeping Climate Adaptation Act next year and expand the use of artificial intelligence to forecast floods, road icing and wildfires, as it steps up preparations for intensifying climate risks, officials said Tuesday. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said the Fourth National [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — More than seven in 10 foreign nationals running small businesses in South Korea are Chinese, highlighting the growing role of Chinese entrepreneurs in the country’s local service economy, according to a new report released Tuesday. An analysis by the Korea Immigration Policy Institute found that Chinese nationals accounted for 72.5 [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics has stepped up its push into new growth sectors with its second billion-euro acquisition of the year, signaling a renewed appetite for large-scale dealmaking as it expands beyond its traditional strongholds. The company said Tuesday that it had acquired the advanced driver-assistance systems business of Germany’s ZF Friedrichshafen [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The rapid adoption of foldable smartphones is reshaping the global smartphone market, driving a structural shift toward higher prices and more premium specifications, industry analysts say. Foldable devices, once the domain of early adopters, are gaining traction among mainstream consumers as demand grows for larger screens and multitasking capabilities. That [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Korean government on Tuesday laid out a five-year strategy aimed at overhauling the country’s chemical industry, betting that a shift toward high-value and environmentally friendly products will help it fend off mounting competition and chronic oversupply from China. Under the plan, announced by the Ministry of Trade, [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — As weight-loss drugs gain popularity in South Korea, gyms that once thrived on New Year’s diet resolutions are beginning to feel the strain. Fitness centers across Seoul report a noticeable shift in consumer behavior as more people turn to prescription obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro instead of exercise [...]